The air in the cavern was thick with tension, the crimson glow from the burning veins along the rock walls casting ominous shadows that danced like ghosts.
Wu Mei's breath came in shallow gasps as she struggled against the invisible chains of Dracon's dark magic that had wrapped around her mind and will.
"I won't ever join you," she whispered fiercely, voice trembling with a mixture of anger and desperation. "You can't control me."
Dracon stepped closer, the cruel smile on his lips never fading. His eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction.
"Oh, but I already have."
He raised his hand, chanting low, ancient words filled with power older than any living being.
A dark mist seeped from his fingers, swirling around Wu Mei like a suffocating fog.
Her limbs went rigid. Her heart, once fierce with fire, slowed.
She fought. Desperately.
But the magic was too strong.
Her resistance dimmed like a dying flame.
When the haze cleared, her eyes—once bright and fiery—had turned obsidian black. Her lips darkened, matching the black silk gown that now draped her slender form.
She looked at Dracon with cold, empty eyes.
"Master," she whispered, voice void of warmth.
Dracon laughed softly, triumphant.
"You see, Qin Yanzhou, the fire goddess is mine now."
Far from the dark cave, Qin Yanzhou's heart hammered in his chest.
For days, they had trekked the treacherous mountain paths Shao Wei had told them about, searching relentlessly for any trace of Wu Mei.
The journey had been harsh—icy winds biting at their faces, craggy rocks tearing at their boots, and the weight of dread hanging over them like a storm cloud.
Yet Qin Yanzhou refused to give up.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Wu Mei's face—her smile, her laughter, the softness in her eyes—and the unbearable terror of losing her again burned like fire beneath his skin.
"We're close," Zhao Xi said, pausing atop a jagged outcrop, his eyes scanning the valley below. "I can feel it. Something powerful lies ahead."
"Good," Qin Yanzhou replied, gripping his sword tighter. "We have to find her before it's too late."
Shao Wei nodded grimly. "Dracon's lair is hidden in these mountains, but it is protected by powerful wards and illusions. Stay alert."
They descended carefully, each step bringing them deeper into the unknown.
Back in the cave, Wu Mei knelt silently beside Dracon, her expression unreadable, eyes dark as night.
Dracon's voice was smooth, almost soothing as he spoke. "You will serve me well, Wu Mei. Together, we will awaken the god beneath the mountain and reshape this world."
Her voice was cold, detached. "I only obey you because you have forced me. It is not my will."
Dracon smiled. "Ah, but soon you will want it to be your will."
He touched her forehead gently, and images flooded her mind—visions of power, destruction, and a destiny entwined with darkness.
Yet deep inside, a tiny spark resisted—a remnant of the fire she once held so fiercely.
Hours later, as Qin Yanzhou and his companions neared the cave's entrance, the faint glow of magic pulsed through the air.
They crouched behind boulders, peering inside.
There, in the heart of the cavern, was Wu Mei.
But she was not the woman they had known.
Her black hair gleamed like oil under the crimson light.
Her eyes, once warm and full of life, now glinted with icy malice.
A sleek black dress hugged her slender frame, and her lips were painted the same dark shade as her eyes.
She smiled—a smile that sent a chill down Qin Yanzhou's spine.
Beside her stood Dracon, his dark figure towering, arms crossed as he watched her with amusement.
Qin Yanzhou stepped forward, voice firm but filled with desperation.
"Wu Mei! Come back to me. This isn't you."
Wu Mei's smile widened as she turned to face him.
"Is it, Qin Yanzhou?" Her voice was smooth and cold. "This is who I have become."
Dracon's voice cut through the silence. "Release her, or you will suffer the consequences."
Qin Yanzhou's eyes narrowed. "Let her go."
Dracon laughed, a sound that echoed through the cavern like a death knell.
"Wu Mei," he said, turning to her, "tell him. Do you wish to stay with your husband… or with me?"
The question hung heavy in the air.
Wu Mei's gaze flickered to Qin Yanzhou and back to Dracon.
Then, slowly, she smiled again.
"I will stay with my master."
Qin Yanzhou felt as though his heart shattered into a thousand pieces.
He stepped forward, reaching out with trembling hands to touch her shoulders.
"Wu Mei… I am Qin Yanzhou. Your husband. The man who loves you."
Her smile remained, but it was hollow, like a mask hiding the storm beneath.
In a blink, a cold blade appeared in her hand.
Before he could react, she plunged the knife deep into his chest, the metal piercing near his heart.
Shock froze Qin Yanzhou's breath.
He staggered back, blood spilling from his mouth.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
Pain exploded in his chest, but more painful was the betrayal etched in her eyes.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Qin Yanzhou crawled toward her, desperate to hold her, to understand.
"Wu Mei… please…" he whispered.
But she stepped away, gliding gracefully to Dracon's side.
Dracon's laughter filled the cavern—dark and victorious.
As Qin Yanzhou lay on the cold stone, his vision blurred, but one thought burned brighter than pain or despair—
He would find a way to bring Wu Mei back.
No darkness could extinguish the fire between them.